Sailors Virgin Pine Forest  
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Sailors Virgin Pine Forest, Newaygo

Close by the north shore of Croton Pond is a reminder of our past. Here is a stand of white pine that takes you back to a time before the turn of the century, when most of Northern michigan was covered by wonderous pine. A small plaque, set in stone, near the entrance, dedicates the forest to the original owners, William and Elizabeth Sailors.

Being among the early settlers here, the Sailors came to this area from Indiana in the 1850's. They ahd one son, David, in 1888. Willaim Sailors became engaged in the lumbering business, which was the prominant industry in the latter part of the 19th century.Nearly all the white pine had been cut from this area by the late 1890's. Their son, DavidSailors, as a youngster, saw the pine harvested and vanish from the landscape. Lumbermen, who stayed in the business, turned their attention to the neglected hardwoods, which, were growing where pines once stood.

America, as an industrial leader, needed hardwoo for pallets, crates and boxes for the fruit and vegetable industry. In addition, Michigan was leading in furniture manufacturing and needed quality hardwood.

It was while dealing in timberlans, Mr. Sailors became aware of this property. In the 1920's, this stand of pine was of the age that it was not large enough to cut during the last wave of the pine era. Mr. sailors, being a man of vision, realized something in this stand of pines for future generations. He purchased this property in 1926. Starting in the 1940's, he began clearing what hardwoods grew amongst the pines. He trimmed the lower branches on the pines, and kept the forest floor clear. Mr. Sailors, along with the help of several local neighbors maintained this practice into his old age. The property was then made available for the public to view.



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